Overall, the six week internship with VIN’s Women Empowerment Program allowed me to apply many of the skills I’ve acquired in academia to actual work in the eveloping world, which I found very rewarding. I was able to receive firsthand

work experience in a developing country, using economic development tools to empower the local community of Jitpur Phedi: a town residing on the boarder on the Kathmandu Valley.

My responsibilities have included a ground-up study of the Profitability of Off- Season Vegetable Farming in the villages to interview the women, and then performing a cost benefit and regression analysis of the data collected. Additionally I’ve written an irrigation grant proposal to increase the efficacy of local farming by providing access to a sustainable irrigation source.

My final task was working within market management to make the process of selling produce more efficient while seeking additional buyers of local, organic produce from the women in the Jitpur community. The experience has been both challenging and rewarding but most importantly, has given me confirmation that working within

development economics will be my life’s pursuit.

I had a wonderful experience in Nepal and hope to work here again in the future. would be interested in continuing to promote VIN’s mission both informally and formally on an as need basis. VIN offers a variety of programs that I feel appeal to many people wishing to volunteer abroad.

Rebecca Clark, USA

Women’s Empowerment Intern

Jul 1 to Aug 11, 2010